and boston. >> reporter: with confidence sandy would come ashore south of new york city, but batter the city's airports the worst. >> sandy was coming in, were you nervous, the airline? >> no. >> reporter: because? >> not at all. because we had a plan ready to go. >> reporter: holtz set that plan into motion over the weekend, waiving change fees. and flying extra employees into new york before the hurricane struck. you caps canceled flights earli than you probably had to, but the goal was to get back up to speed once the storm passed as early as possible? >> that's a good assessment. you take it down in orderly fashion for customers and for us here in the operations center, you're able to bring it back that exact same way. >> reporter: sandy closed 15 northeast airports, including all three that service new york city. delta had canceled 1,445 flights and some passengers were upset. >> i'm trying to go to india. my mother is very sick. >> reporter: but you didn't see this image, terminals pa s pack with stranded travelers. >> one of the goals was to prevent turning the airport into this